Week 10: Hauntology

Rather than the usual lectures of moral questioning, media engagement and social innovation enlightenment I usually encounter, this weeks readings has seen to a rather dark and bismal tone being washed upon the  topics of science, media and the environment. (Apparently I was unaware that Anthropocene was alluding to answer the question of fixing the world- by means of fixing the past- possible?... unlikely) Not only that, but this envisioning idea of 'presentism' has sadly confirmed all of those late night fears I have that i'm only living my life, but not really experiencing it.

Indeed, Rushkoff's ideas of presentism has been the buzzword of the week for me. The concept itself explaining how no past, nor future exists, creating a mindset that only exists in an exact current moment. the most interesting part? Rushkoff's idea of the unprepared people... we are in 'shock'. The overwhelming level of interaction we demand ourselves to complete renders our inability to actually experience  Rushkoff breaks this down a little better into the 5 struggles we face around the phenomenon. Here... let me give you the laymen break down:

- Narrative Collapse- in simpler terms, a breakdown or collapse of modern discourse. The idea that we no longer reach in-junctures through a structured, linear sequence of discourse. Everything these days seems to be so multi-platformed and cross referenced that post-modernism seems outdated as a term.
- Digiphrenia- Technology splits our experience apart. The best modern example would have to be Facebook addiction. No matter where you are, you have the ability to connect with someone, or something else. Ultimately your experience of where you are is diminished in it's memorable 'richness'.
- Overwinding- Quite simply, we try to cram to much into to little a space when it comes to our daily lives.
- Fractalnoia- We've become paranoid. We seek to make connections of every event we experience to another one that has NO connection. Inevitably, he examines how we look too much into the present to make sense of it, when we should be looking to the past. (a bit contradictory to presentism at first, but don't worry... it makes sense... I think)
- Apocalyto- This one i'm sure you can guess. End of the world. Boom. Bang. Splat. Whatever way you say, we seem to be obsessed with it! almost to the point that we will be a little disappointed if it doesn't happen... all that work devising a Zombie escape plan will just go to waste!

So that's the summary for you.... a dark week of intellect indeed!

However, so you don't leave this with a dreary head, here's something a little more uplifting... THE INTERNET OF THINGS! Just a great youtube clip for you!

Word this week: Hauntology